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Or eating hoe (Korean sashimi) -- again with soju -- at the shiny new fish market.

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Or watching burly, tattooed local men (widely considered more manly than their Seoul counterparts) play a popular street game, driving nails with a single blow into a thick wooden beam, for prizes of cigarettes and whiskey.

Even apart from the prevalence of seafood, the cuisine in Busan is also different from that found in the rest of the country.

Here's what to do in Korea's second city.

Beaches

Haeundae

During the summer swim season -- it runs from July 1 to August 31 each year -- millions of Koreans, and increasingly more foreign visitors, descend on this strip of beach and revel in the water before heading out to party on weekend nights.

Just in front of the beach is the Haeundae "Sea Village" Pojangmacha street, a strip of identical, tented seafood stalls selling everything from live octopus to lobster.

Customers pick their own meal from a tank and minutes later have it cooked and served to them alongside their favorite Busan soju.

The highlight of Busan street food is a local sunflower seed variation of hoddeok, a hot, sweet, fried cake bursting with crunchy seeds and sugary goodness.

Though many vendors in the International Market seem to sell the same thing, one hoddeok vendor located right next to the circular stage in the middle of market has lines at all hours of the day while neighbor vendors look on jealously.

Men drink the stronger C1 soju, while women tend to prefer the "Ye" series.

Locals order a particular brand of soju according to mood or occasion: Jeulgowoye, meaning "happy," is for the lighter occasions, while Geuriwoye, meaning "nostalgia," is served at more somber events, such as funerals.

This 1,300-year-old temple high in the mountains offers a breathtaking respite from urban life. Monks go about their daily rituals without taking notice of the few visitors wandering timidly around the premises.

Those who want to experience temple life (meditation techniques, tea ceremonies, temple food) can sleep over with the temple stay program. The one-night-two-day program costs ₩50,000- ₩80,000 per person ($44-$70) per person, depending on the choice of activities.